BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1980
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 4, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON BUSINESS, PROFESSIONS AND CONSUMER
PROTECTION
Mary Hayashi, Chair
AB 1980 (Hayashi) - As Amended: April 28, 2010
SUBJECT : Veterinary medicine.
SUMMARY : Authorizes the administration of first aid to sick,
injured, homeless, or unwanted domestic pets or animals by
employees of an animal control shelter or humane society.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Authorizes the administration of first aid to sick, injured,
homeless, or unwanted domestic pets or animals without the
presence of a veterinarian by employees of an animal control
shelter and its agencies or humane society.
2)States that this bill does not authorize a person to act
outside the scope of his or her employment.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Provides for the regulation of the practice of veterinary
medicine by the Veterinary Medical Board (Board) and prohibits
that practice without a license.
2)Specifies that the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act (Act) does
not prohibit an employee of an animal control shelter or human
society from administering sodium pentobarbital for euthanasia
if the employee has received proper training in that
administration.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown. This bill is keyed non-fiscal.
COMMENTS :
Purpose of this bill . According to the author's office, "Many
animals arrive at shelters during off hours and in emergency
conditions. They need immediate attention which may not be
available by a veterinarian, such as treating cuts or injuries.
Additionally, since smaller animal control agencies may not have
a veterinarian on staff, sick or injured animals may suffer
needlessly while waiting for medical care by an outside
AB 1980
Page 2
veterinarian."
Background . The Board's mission is to provide protection to
consumers and animals through proper licensing of veterinarians
and registered veterinary technicians, and through vigorous,
objective enforcement of the Act.
Although the Board does not regulate shelters, per se, various
changes in the landscape of animal shelters and shelter medicine
have caused the Board to review the veterinary medicine
requirements for shelters.
According to the Board, if shelters are providing veterinary
care, they are practicing veterinary medicine. The Veterinary
Medicine Practice Act defines the practice of veterinary
medicine as diagnosing, prescribing, and treating of an animal
for the prevention, cure, relief of a wound, fracture, bodily
injury, or disease. These procedures fall under the
jurisdiction of the Board.
Animal control shelters are regulated under the California Food
and Agriculture Code, Civil Code, and Penal Code. City, county,
and city and county animal control shelters and its agencies are
mandated to provide "necessary and prompt veterinary medical
care to animals housed in an animal control shelter" to care for
adoptable animals and protect the public good.
The Board has interpreted the "necessary and prompt" requirement
of veterinary medical care to permit unlicensed employees to
administer basic care to protect the public and animals in the
absence of a veterinarian. All other on-going and regular
veterinary medical care must be provided by or under the
supervision of a licensed California veterinarian.
AB 1980
Page 3
Thus, this bill codifies existing interpretations of the Board
and clarifies that it is not intended to impact any existing
scopes of practice.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
PawPAC (sponsor)
Antelope Valley Kennel Club Inc.
California Federation of Dog Clubs
PetPAC
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by : Rebecca May / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301